Tartu (language)
Tartu ( Estonian tartu keel , South Estonian language tarto kiil ) is a traditional dialect form of the South Estonian language. In (historical) German or German-Baltic language usage, the term Dörptestnisch (after the city of Dorpat, Estonian Tartu) is more common.
At the beginning of the 21st century, the language is still spoken by around a thousand speakers in Estonia. Like Võro , Seto and Mulgi , people are trying to revive the language today.
The language experienced its heyday from the 17th to the 19th century. It was primarily at home in the historical parishes of southern Tartumaa ( Sangaste , Otepää , Kambja , Võnnu , Rõngu , Rannu , Puhja , Nõo and Tartu-Maarja). In Tartumaa and Võrumaa it was the church, court and school language. It was also spoken in Valgamaa and Põlvamaa counties .
The most outstanding linguistic monument is the translation of the New Testament published in 1686 under the title Wastne Testament by the Baltic German pastor Andreas Virginius and his son Adrian Virginius . The writer and philologist Jakob Hurt (1839–1907) also wrote some of his writings in Dörptestnisch, based on the dialect of Rõngu.
The best-known contemporary representative of Dorptestnian literature is the poet Mats Traat (* 1936).